Excavator.



F. HIGHTOWER.

EXCAVATOR. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAY!!! l9l6- Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. HlGHTOWE R F. HIGHIOWER.

EXCAVATOR.

APPLICATLON FILED MAY 31. ms.

. Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 F HIGHTQWER FRANK nrerrrownn, or MONTROSE, COLORADO.

EXCAVATOB.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented Nov; 6, 1917.

Application filed. May 31, 1916. Serial No. 100,912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Hrerrrownn, a citizen of the United States,residing at 'Montrose, in the county of Montrose and State of Colorado,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavators, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in excavators and hasrelation more particularly to a device of this general characterespecially designed and adapted for use inthe digging of trenches orditches; and it is an object of the invention to provide a device ofthis general character including a plow and carrier together with noveland improved means whereby a side delivery may be given tothe matterexcavated.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an excavator with anovel and improved discharging conveyer which is disposed laterally ofthe machine proper and which is capable of endwise adjustment so thatthe matter excavated may be discharged at the same side of the trench orditch upon travel of the excavator in opposite directions.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improvedexcavator whereby certain important advan tages are attained and thedevice is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, all as,

will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating anexcavator constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the device as disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line of Fig. 2;and

Fig. & is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in sectiontaken adjacent the upper end of the elevating conveyer as herein setforth.

As disclosed in the accompanying draw ings, A denotes the axle on whichis loosely axle A and adapted for rocking movement therearound, and theforward end of the frame is provided with the shovel orplow S forworking the ground or other material to be excavated.

F is a truck having forits purpose to support the forward portion of thebody and said truck F is provided with the pole D and at its ends withthe caster wheels E to facilitate turning of the machine at the ends ofa ditch or trench. connected withthe side barsB of the body through themedium of the draw bars H and the beams J.

he beams J are fixed to and extend up- .wardly and forwardly from theside bars B The truck F. is

and are provided with the segmental rack i K and a lever L provided witha detent lvi for engaging the rack K while the draw bars H are pivoted,as at a, to the beams J and are connected through the medium of of thelever L. 'lfhus it will be apparent that the forward portion of themachine body may be raised and lowered and adjustably fixed at variousheights as condi tions may require.

1 and 2 denote rollers interposed between and rotatably supported by theopposite end portions of the side bars B and around which travels theendless apron 3 for receiving the earth or the like from the shovel orplow S and carrying the same upwardly and rearwardly. The upper roller 2is operatively engaged, as at 4, with the spur gears G whereby therequisite travel is imparted to the apron 3 upon advance of the machine.

Suitably supported by the side bars B is a frame T including thevertically disposed members 5 arranged in pairs in longitudinalalinement with each of the side bars B and each pair of members 5 isprovided with the vertically spaced guide rollers 6 between which aremounted for sliding movement the side bars 7 of the discharge conveyer,whereby it will be perceived that said conveyer is the link Z) with thelower and forward end capable of endwise movement. The adjacent ends ofthe side bars 7 have interposed therebetvveen and rotatably supportedthereby the rollers 8 around which is disposed the apron 9 and each ofsaid rollers 8 has a forwardly extending shaft 10 to which is a flixed agear 11 for a purpose which will hereinafter be more fully explained.

The endless apron 3 discharges upon the apron 9 and it will be at onceapparent that by imparting the requisite endwise movement to thedischarge conveyor, the apron 9 may be caused to discharge at the sameside of a ditch or trench as the machine is caused to travel forwardlyand backwardlv during the excavating operation.

The upper end portions of the members 5 are tied or connected by thetransversely directed beams 12 which rotatably support the shaft ladisposed longitudinally of the ma chine and provided with the sprockets15 positioned substantially directly above the side bars 7 and overwhich are disposed the sprocket chains 16 which have their end portionssecured to the opposite extremities of the side bars 7. The shaft 1% isprovided with an operating member 17 whereby the requisite axialrotation may be imparted thereto in order to move the discharge conveyerin the direction desired in accordance with the requirements ofpractice.

Rotatably supported by the side bars B is the shaft 18 arrangedsubstantially in paral lelism with the discharge eonveyer andoperatively engaged, as at 19, with a movable part of the machine forimparting the requisite rotation thereto. The extremities of the shaft18 are provided with the gears 20 which coact with the gears 11 to limitthe endwise movement of the discharge conveyer and to coact therewith toimpartthe requisite travel to the apron 9.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that anexcavator constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremelysimple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention issusceptible of some change and modification without material departurefrom the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wishto be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement andformation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my inventionin practice.

I claim An excavator including a portable body, a frame arranged at anend of the body and including vertically disposed members arranged inpairs, said pairs of vertically disposed members being transverselyspaced relative to the body, the verticallv disposed members of eachpair having their opposed faces provided with vertically spaced rollers,a frame comprising spaced side boards mounted for sliding movementbetween said rollers, a horizontal shaft supported by the first namedframe at substantially the trans verse center of the body and providedwith operating means, and a flexible member coacting with each of theside boards of the second frame and having its extremities secured tothe opposite end portions of the side board, the intermediate portion ofsaid flexible member being operatively engaged with the shaft.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

FRANK HIGHTOW ER. l/Vitnesses:

JOHN C. BELL, B. E. HANES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Yatents, Washington, D. G

